Difference between revisions of "2005 AIME I Problems/Problem 8"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
Let <math>y = 2^{111x}</math>.  Then our equation reads <math>\frac{1}{4}y^3 + 4y = 2y^2 + 1</math> or <math>y^3 - 8y^2 + 16y - 4 = 0</math>.  Thus, if this equation has roots <math>r_1, r_2</math> and <math>r_3</math>, we have <math>r_1\cdot r_2\cdot r_3 = 4</math>.  Let the corresponding values of <math>x</math> be <math>x_1, x_2</math> and <math>x_3</math>.  Then the previous statement says that <math>2^{111\cdot(x_1 + x_2 + x_3)} = 4</math> so that taking a [[logarithm]] gives <math>111(x_1 + x_2 + x_3) = 2</math> and <math>x_1 + x_2 + x_3 = \frac{2}{111}</math>.  Thus the answer is <math>111 + 2 = 113</math>.
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Let <math>y = 2^{111x}</math>.  Then our equation reads <math>\frac{1}{4}y^3 + 4y = 2y^2 + 1</math> or <math>y^3 - 8y^2 + 16y - 4 = 0</math>.  Thus, if this equation has roots <math>r_1, r_2</math> and <math>r_3</math>, by [[Vieta's formulas]] we have <math>r_1\cdot r_2\cdot r_3 = 4</math>.  Let the corresponding values of <math>x</math> be <math>x_1, x_2</math> and <math>x_3</math>.  Then the previous statement says that <math>2^{111\cdot(x_1 + x_2 + x_3)} = 4</math> so that taking a [[logarithm]] gives <math>111(x_1 + x_2 + x_3) = 2</math> and <math>x_1 + x_2 + x_3 = \frac{2}{111}</math>.  Thus the answer is <math>111 + 2 = 113</math>.
 
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
* [[Exponent]]
 
 
{{AIME box|year=2005|n=I|num-b=7|num-a=9}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2005|n=I|num-b=7|num-a=9}}
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[[Category:Intermediate Algebra Problems]]

Revision as of 18:01, 25 November 2007

Problem

The equation $2^{333x-2} + 2^{111x+2} = 2^{222x+1} + 1$ has three real roots. Given that their sum is $\frac mn$ where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers, find $m+n.$

Solution

Let $y = 2^{111x}$. Then our equation reads $\frac{1}{4}y^3 + 4y = 2y^2 + 1$ or $y^3 - 8y^2 + 16y - 4 = 0$. Thus, if this equation has roots $r_1, r_2$ and $r_3$, by Vieta's formulas we have $r_1\cdot r_2\cdot r_3 = 4$. Let the corresponding values of $x$ be $x_1, x_2$ and $x_3$. Then the previous statement says that $2^{111\cdot(x_1 + x_2 + x_3)} = 4$ so that taking a logarithm gives $111(x_1 + x_2 + x_3) = 2$ and $x_1 + x_2 + x_3 = \frac{2}{111}$. Thus the answer is $111 + 2 = 113$.

See also

2005 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 7
Followed by
Problem 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions